It wasn’t that long ago that Sega announced a partnership with Platinum Games, a Japanese development company with a few truly big names in its roster. MadWorld is one of four planned titles in this partnership that has the potential to deliver some unique gaming experiences. MadWorld in particular, could be a godsend as it is being developed for the Wii, which has probably seen enough minigame collections to last someone at least another century or two.
The most noticeable feature of MW is its art style. It’s easiest to compare it to the comic/movie “Sin City” with its black-and-white aesthetic, as graphic novels are a huge influence of the game. It seems the only part of the game that isn’t black and white is the blood, of which you can bet there is plenty of since brutal killings is what it’s all about. You play the role of a contestant in a game show we suppose is something like what was in Manhunt; kill or be killed. The big difference is that Manhunt’s killings were way more realistic. In MW, it’s not at all uncommon to trap a foe in a tire and impale him with street signs. Top that off with slamming him onto a wall of spikes and you have a pretty good feel for what MW’s combat is like. It’s all very ridiculous and cartoony (‘cept for all the blood), but why stop there? Your default weapons are chainsaws and you’ll come across more weapons as well, like dual daggers. To make sure you’re not taking it too seriously, commentators will be spouting one-liners and other exclamations throughout the chaos to lend to that game show feel.
But there are other modes besides just the main single-player game. Challenge modes exist to spice things up – they’re often time attack modes of sorts, where you have to take out as many enemies in a very limited amount of time. One challenge mode called “Death Press” has you killing enemies and then literally disposing of them by tossing them in a pit with a giant compactor, all in 1 minute. Though the Wii’s online capabilities are not all they really could be, MW might have some form of online leaderboards for these challenge modes. MW also has some vehicle segments to break up all the on-foot murdering. In a recently shown demo, your main character rides down the side of a building on a motorcycle, and there are to be more segments like this, riding through the city streets.
In that same demo, a boss character utilizing the power of tornados tried to impede the progress of the player, so we know that there are more than just faceless goons to dispatch. And because this is a Wii game we’re talking about, of course there’s going to be quite a bit of waggling. Some attacks require precise timing with on-screen action to keep the punishment going. Some will have your skewering an enemy and then ripping him in two by pulling the Wiimote and nunchuk away from each other.
Certainly, MadWorld is looking like a breath of fresh air for the Wii (or is that the stench of dead bodies?), and we can only hope that the other games in this Sega/Platinum Games tag team – Bayonetta and Infinite Line and a mystery unannounced title will be just as refreshing. However, these titles are still a little ways off and we won’t be seeing the results of this company love fest until next year. MadWorld though looks to be ready by this coming march, so soon enough you can start sharpening your chainsaws.
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